Brahms: 4 Ballades, Op.10 (Zimerman)

The Ballades, Op. 10, are lyrical piano pieces written by Johannes Brahms during his youth. They were dated 1854 and were dedicated to his friend Julius Otto Grimm. Their composition coincided with the beginning of the composer's lifelong affection for the pianist and composer Clara Schumann, who was helping Brahms launch his career. Frédéric Chopin had written the last of his famous ballades only 12 years earlier, but Brahms approached the genre differently from Chopin, choosing to take its origin in narrative poetry more literally.

0:00 - D minor. Andante

4:51 - D major. Andante

11:36 - B minor. Intermezzo. Allegro

15:58 - B major. Andante con moto

Performer: Krystian Zimerman, 1982 Deutsche Grammophon
Other Performances I Enjoy ;) (in no particular order)
   • Brahms - Ballades - Michelangeli Vati...   (Michelangeli)
   • Brahms - Ballades op.10 - Gilels   (Gilels)
   • Brahms - Walter Klien (1962) - 4 Ball...   (Klien)
   • Sokolov - Brahms: 4 Ballades Op. 10   (Sokolov)
   • Ballade, Op. 10: No. 1 in D Minor   (Rubinstein)